What do people think of the idea of having tolerance zones for the sex trade?
I think that this might be something worth trying if only to help the girls become safer and maybe break the grip of the pimps.
The present situation does not seem to be working so other options need to be explored.
I was dissapointed the police did not think this was worth a try,views plz.

Keep it off the streets please.

If they want to set up properly licensed brothels, with health and safety checks required on a regular basis, then so long as it's discreet and not in a residential area, I don't mind.

So long as they pay VAT and income tax of course!

Originally posted by Andy
Keep it off the streets please.

If they want to set up properly licensed brothels, with health and safety checks required on a regular basis, then so long as it's discreet and not in a residential area, I don't mind.

So long as they pay VAT and income tax of course! Yes get it off the streets where it can be monitored not just for the people who use prostitutes but for the prostitutes them selfs if its monitored maybe there will be less drugs and pimps and stop the girls from getting beaten up. :cool:

Originally posted by royjames
What do people think of the idea of having tolerance zones for the sex trade?
I think that this might be something worth trying if only to help the girls become safer and maybe break the grip of the pimps.
The present situation does not seem to be working so other options need to be explored.
I was dissapointed the police did not think this was worth a try,views plz.

I think it is a bad idea. If you set up a tolerance zone in the Shalesmoor/West Bar area it is not going to break the grip of pimps. If you legalise prostitution, there will be even more pimps.

I can see why you might think it a good idea... it will push the red light area back up towards Netherthorpe.. and it will be easy access for people living in those tower blocks on Mitchell Street.

There might be more pimps, but at least we'll be able to tax them! :D

The police have a very good reason for being opposed to Roy's proposition. Even if we set up legalised brothels in Shalesmoor and Netherthorpe, girls would still want to work the streets because there will always be demand from men who don't want to go into brothels and the street girls will always be there competing with the legal brothels. I think the idea would actually create more prostitutes.

In Germany it`s legal and clean and licensed. They have health checks every couple of months. They are looked after as well.

They have been like that for years and it works well.

I think Patchy is mistaking my stance on this, I am not saying that it ought to be lagalised ,more that it ought to be monitored in a specific area and then the girls might feel safer.
LOL as for netherthorpe yes we certainly have our share of working girls but that is not meant to be disparaging at all.
Tell you what Patchy why dont me and you go and have a beer in the bathfield and have a nice chat??

I seem to remember this idea was suggested a couple of years ago and that the tolerance zone should be around the rear of Shalesmoor. I'm certain that a lot of the local businesses kicked up a stink saying it would damage trade and that locals were totally opposed to it. I'm sorry but most of the local businesses seem to be factories so why would girls standing on the street corners [as they already do] damage trade? The other point being the locals, I assume they mean residents, where exactly do these residents live on those back streets? I can't recollect ever having seen any housing over there.

:(

If they want to make prostitution unprofitable, let the Government run it.

This book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0449006581/002-5709291-0796046?v=glance gives an interesting look at the women who work in the sex trade in Nevada. You would think with all the regulations, laws, and safeguards in place, things would be better for them. Unfortunately, the potential for abuse is still huge, and a large number of women still find themselves trapped in the worst dead end job in the world.

This guy http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2002/11/29/29072.php (Sorry, couldn't find any recent stories. The place has since been bulldozed, and the Bureau of Land Management is trying to decide what to do with the property along the Truckee River)

has been on the lam somewhere in South America for twelve years. He owes the US Government millions in back taxes. Money they will probably never collect. If he doesn't fit the definition of a pimp, I don't know what would. He is scum.

I guess this is the type of thing that is going to go on regardless, but I wish ANYONE (of either gender) who thinks becoming a prostitute is a strategic career move, would give the matter some very serious consideration.

It seems to me a soul destroying way of earning a living.

Sierra

Originally posted by rosie
In Germany it`s legal and clean and licensed. They have health checks every couple of months. They are looked after as well.

They have been like that for years and it works well. That's a bit of a rosy view though. (scuse the pun ;) ) They also still have street prostitutes, including thousands of under age girls from eastern Europe being forced to work by violent pimps who feed them heroin.

I used to think it would be a good idea until having a conversation with the Superintendent that runs the Sheffield city centre - ie the bloke who has to deal with it. He was most definitely not in favour.

The new methods with ASBO's and removing the punters seems to be having a better result. At least the Police know who is active and have some measure of control.

Anyway... who on earth would want to live / work in a tolerance zone?

Don't think for a second that all legalised brothels would be smashing places with clean, healthy girls paying their taxes and NI without the interference of pimps.

You have semi-legal brothels now. they are called massage / sauna suites. The police recently had to raid some in Sheffield, and guess what they found.:(

What about building out of town brothels and then instituting 'zero tolerance' on the streets?

Put the brothels in an industrial estate, or some other area away from 'civillians'. We can build out of town shopping malls, business parks and industrial estates so why not go this way?

Joe

Originally posted by JoePritchard
What about building out of town brothels and then instituting 'zero tolerance' on the streets?

Put the brothels in an industrial estate, or some other area away from 'civillians'. We can build out of town shopping malls, business parks and industrial estates so why not go this way?

Joe But unless you are proposing building a 'sextertainment centre' on the top of a mountain in Wales, there is nowhere 'away from civilians' Joe.

Would you want your wife / partner working in a prostitution tolerance zone? Or having to walk through it to catch the bus home on dark winter evenings?

I think that is a pretty good reason.

i do not think that they should have tolerance zones. I used to live on a road in sheff when there was two prositutes who worked there. they were always pleasant though did come into our garden for a wee when they got caught short! ( being a student at the time it did not bother me because it's not where i would have to live forever) What I did dislike was when I was walking to my house cars would slowly pull by the side as I walked then zoom off when they realised I was not what they were looking for!

I also have friends who work in a call centre in the centre of sheff nearby prostitues hang out, because they feel unsafe they have the security guards walk them out if they feel threatened, this is in a non residental area but people still have to work late in this area.

what do you think would happen to your wife/partner walking or working in a tolerance zone ?

The thing here Jan is to find somewhere that is away from the public and still accesable to the punters.
One thing is certain at this time we are not getting to grips with the problem and something else needs to be done.
I woul'd like to the girls free from the pimps and to be able to WORK in a safer enviroment and given any help they need.

Surely the solution to prostitution is education?

Everybody should have choices in this world and the one thing that prostitutes do not have is choice. According to the chief constable, of the known 260 street prostitutes in Sheffield 99% of them are there because of drugs. Legalising brothels will not stop this as one of the criteria for brothels in those countires where they are legal is that the women are drug free. If Sheffield's prostitutes were drug free then they would not be prostitutes.

A major break through in Sheffield is that when street girls are arrested the police refer them to the drug rehabilitation centres in the hopes that they can be weaned off drugs.

However you regard prostitution the end result is the degradation of a woman. We will never stop it until the penalty for prostitution is directed at those that use them.

Have to agree with Roy 100%. The women (and men) should be able to work in a safe enviroment away from the threat of Pimps. Would tolerance zones provide this? I dont know, perhaps not - but at least it would take away the worry the Women have of being picked up by the police - ie they wouldnt be criminalised. Police attention should be taken away from Prostitutes and thier clients and placed heavily on the Pimps.

Mat

PS

Would you want your wife / partner working in a prostitution tolerance zone?

......well as long as she got a good price........:D

Originally posted by Tony
But unless you are proposing building a 'sextertainment centre' on the top of a mountain in Wales, there is nowhere 'away from civilians' Joe.

Would you want your wife / partner working in a prostitution tolerance zone? Or having to walk through it to catch the bus home on dark winter evenings?

I think that is a pretty good reason.

No I wouldn't want my partner living / travelling through such a place, but I do believe it's possible to build such a place where there is the minimum of 'passing trade'.

I honestly believe that prostitution is always going to be with us. The issue for society is to run it with the minimum of hassle for all those concerned.

Joe

Originally posted by max
If Sheffield's prostitutes were drug free then they would not be prostitutes.

However you regard prostitution the end result is the degradation of a woman. We will never stop it until the penalty for prostitution is directed at those that use them.
That only applies as such to street prostitutes. There are numerous so called high quality prostitutes readily available that don't have drug problems and if anything revel in their high financial status..would you regard these women as being degraded??

There's no denying the problems associated with street prostitution but the problem is not feeling degraded but the desperation their situation leaves them in in the first place. But lets not assume all women that work in this field of the sex industry are using the profession to feed their drug habits.

for street "ladies of the night" i believe we should look at safe houses where there are doormen and cameras to protect the ladies. we need to look at why the girls are doing it too. is it drugs? is it money? Do they they education and a way forward, a way outta it? maybe its an addiction?

Originally posted by Tony


Would you want your wife / partner working in a prostitution tolerance zone? Or having to walk through it to catch the bus home on dark winter evenings?

I think that is a pretty good reason.

But isn't there a potential for them to walk through an 'unofficial' zone now? where i used to live as a student there were always prostitutes hanging about

i cant get over how many are around at night in town, they must be so cold stood there all night. houses would be so much safer for everyone.

It has been reported on Sky News today that Liverpool council are voting tonight on whether to introduce the countries first legal 'prostitution zone' Would something like that work in Sheffield? If so where would it be?

K x

Threads merged.

Max,
I have a respect for your views generally, but I must say how much I disagree with your points re education and prostitutes. Perhaps many women enter the "trade" because of drug-dependency, poverty, threats of violence etc, but that does not always include some of the so-called "high class" escorts at the top end [in terms of earning potential] of the market. Perhaps "market" is an unfortunate phrase, but you will understand me.

There are cases of women who choose to capitalise on their looks and bodies, and go on to earn a great deal of money supplying sexual services. Often, they are "educated", but realise there will always be a demand for what a turn of the genetic dice has provided them with. Your argument, with great respect, neglects the variable of human agency- choice. In simple terms, some of them choose to prostitute themselves.

The so called tolerance zone will have to be away from residential areas ,not too sure exactly where you coul'd site it.
I forsee the example set by Liverpool as being copied all over the country if it becomes a success.

why has sheffield not got a legal red light district were the girls involved get help from health workers and are protected like they are planning to set up in liverpool ?

liverpool red light district (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1452597,00.html)

or does another prostitute have to be murdered before anything is done ???????

Mod: Check out the rest of this thread now that it has been merged with one originally posted by royjames.